Non-contact force is a type of force that acts between two bodies without there being any actual contact between them. A force is a push or pull upon a body of any mass resulting from the body’s interaction with another body. Whenever there is an interaction between two bodies, there is a force upon each of the bodies. Forces only exist as a result of an interaction. A force due to an action-generated motion in an object. There are two types of Force, Contact and non-contact force.

In this article, we will discuss what is non-contact force, the meaning of non-contact force, examples of non-contact force, and the difference between contact and non-contact force.

What are Non Contact Forces?

Non Contact forces are the forces that acts on the object, without any physical interaction with it, For example, when a ball is thrown upward came back to the thrower due to gravity due to its weight. Let’s learn

Non-Contact Force Meaning

A non-contact force is a force that acts on an object without making contact with it. One of the familiar non-contact force is gravity, which confers weight. In contrast, a contact force is a force applied to a body by another body that is in contact with it or in other words, Forces that arise without the contact of 2 or more objects involved.

Non-Contact Force Example

There are a lesser number of non-contact forces in comparison to contact forces. Some examples of non-contact forces are gravitational force, electrostatic force, Magnetic force, and Nuclear forces.

Non contact force

Some more examples of non contact force are:

• Electrostatic Repulsion
• Van der Waals Forces
• Radiation Pressure
• Atmospheric Pressure

Types of Non-Contact Forces

Non Contact Forces are classified into following types

• Gravitational Force
• Electrostatic Force
• Magnetic Force
• Electromagnetic Force
• Nuclear Force

Gravitational Force

Gravitational Force between two bodies is due to the mass of the two bodies. Newton’s law of gravity says that “gravitational forces between two bodies are directly equal to the product of their masses and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them.” Large things, such as planets and stars, exert this force.

Electrostatic Force

Electrostatic Forces are the types of forces that all electrically charged bodies in the cosmos exert on other electrically charged substances. Based on the charge of the bodies, these forces can be both attractive and repulsive in nature.

Magnetic Force

Magnetic Forces are the sorts of forces exerted by a magnet on magnetic objects. They exist in the absence of any physical interaction between two things.

Electromagnetic Force

Charges when they are at rest exert a force at each other known as the Electric force of attraction/repulsion. Like charges repel each other while unlike charges attract each other. When charges start to move and become dynamic, they develop magnetic field lines around and have magnetic force, these two forces combined are known as Electromagnetic forces present in nature.

Nuclear Force

Nuclear Forces exist inside the nucleus, i.e., the nuclear force exists between protons and neutrons and holds them together inside the nucleus. Nuclear force exists between neutrons and neutrons, neutrons and protons, and protons and protons.

Contact and Non-Contact Force

Contact and Non-Contact Forces are two basic types of forces based on the physical contact between two bodies. Contact Forces act due to the physical conatct between two bodies however the non-contact force act even when there is no conatct between them. We will look Examples of Conatct and Non-Contact Force and the differences between them.

Examples of Contact Force

Here are the real-life examples of Contact Force, we came across in our daily life:

• A Heavy Box lying on the surface when pushed in a particular direction, then a force is created due to the interaction or contact of the box and the surface. This contact force is known as the frictional force.

• When an object (say your school bag) is kept on the table, which remains at rest. The bag is in contact with the table on which applies some force on it due to its weight and gravity. Such contact force is called Applied Force.

Examples of Non-Contact Forces

Let’s now understand more about the Non-Contact Forces, through the following examples:

• When a comb is rubbed on Hairs, it gains some static charging, so attracts paper pieces. This is due to a non-contact force called Electrostatic Force.

• A parachutist falling freely in the air, experiences an attraction or pull toward the center of the earth due to the Non-contact force known as Gravitational Force.

Gravitational Force

Difference between Contact and Non-Contact Force

The difference between Contact and Non-Contact Force is tabulated below:

Also, Check

• Push and Pull Force
• Acceleration
• Frictional Force

Non-Contact Forces – FAQs

1. What is Non-Contact Force Class 8?

Non-contact forces are the forces that acts on the object, without any physical interaction with them, For example, when a ball is thrown upward came back to the thrower due to gravity due to its weight. Non-Contact Force

2. Falling of Raindrops an example of Contact or Non-Contact Force?

Falling raindrops towards the earth is due to gravitational force, which is a Non-Contact Force.

3. What are 4 Non-Contact Forces?

The four non contact forces are Graitational Force, Magnetic Force, Electrostatic Force and Nuclear Force.

4. What is Gravitational Force?

Gravity, also called gravitation, in mechanics, the universal force of attraction acting between all matters. All bodies have a weight on Earth, or downward force of gravity, proportional to their masses. Gravity is measured by the acceleration that it gives to freely falling objects.

5. What is Electrostatic force?

The force caused due to electric charges in an attractive and repulsive manner between the particles is called electrostatic force. The force between stationary charged bodies is conventionally known as the electrostatic force.

6. What is Non-Contact Force also Called?

Non-Contact Force is also called action-at-a-distance force.